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I recently purchased a Dodge Ram Quad Cab and, unfortunately, I park every day in an extremely tight garage. Any thoughts on how well it will aid in getting my truck extremely close to, but not in contact with, the cars behind me?
Thanks in advance.
I only have the voice unit - I didn't think I could get used to looking at a digital readout mounted to my rear view mirror while backing out at the same time. I prefer to look over my shoulder.
The voice system has been responsive and precise. It alerts of objects starting at 5 feet and less as well as objects (like people) passing in back of the car. So far, so good.
He quoted me a retail price for the talking unit (Poron Micro 3 Back Talk) of $495 uninstalled. He said this was the newest model and said the one offered at cartoys.com was an older version that does not work well.
The Poron Micro 3 Back Talk has a female voice that anounces at the following distances (8', 5', 3', 2', 12", 8", and any closer she says "crash"). It is a 3 sensor system that can be installed two ways. 1. Attach with bracket under bumper. 2. Drill through bumper (protrudes 1/8"). I asked about damage if you back into something and he said it would not be a problem ..."unless your doing like 20 MPH when you hit something"
He said it uses echolocation and works from -50 degrees to 130 degrees.
My thoughts: I would like something:
1. that gives shorter distances like 6" and 4" for really tight spaces.
2. less expensive.
http://www.rostra.com/rostra-obstacle.htm
Course this is my opinion after having owned and installed both.
The rostra system filled that bill. Accuracy is determined by several factors for the other manufacturer including weather and cleanliness of the sensor. None of these affects the rostra. The downside to the rostra is that they don't offer a digital display which would tell you exactly how far from the object you are. I weighed the trade off cause in my opinion everything is built heavier duty in the rostra which I thought more important since it is exposed on the exterior of the vehicle.
I mounted it with the display above the rear window of my van. That way I can see it while looking back. I rely more on the beeping than I do the actual distance.
2 days ago, I saw a better installation than mine on an Excursion. Apparently, they ran the wires under the plastic for the rear bumper (or drilled the bumper) and the sensors were mounted (silicone glued?) to the chrome bumper. It looked like it belonged.
I wouldn't hesitate getting another Poron. I haven't tried the other unit but I will look into it as an alternative.
He doesn't install Poron or Rostra.
Does anyone have any feedback on Dolphin EchoMaster??
Thank you to all prior posters - it has been very informative reviewing the discussion from the beginning.
Regards,
Hanginthere21
Thanks
I drive a Windstar, so backing up is easier than with a sedan, but up to a 3 feet distance to the other vehicle. A rear spoiler helps in a sedan though. So a real system makes sense if it tells you the distance, while the alarm makes the driver a bit careless, like "ok people, hear that? I'm backing up! so watch out!" and poles and shopping carts can't hear that and won't move.
But why 90% of the people drive-in directly into the parking spots anyway, and don't back up ? I prefer that, I move towards something still that I know where it is, like a wall, a fence, or another PARKED vehicle, and I don't need to take the large turn, even with a sedan, with the front corners close to the nearby parallel vehicle. Then I can exit seeing everything and everyone and not jeopardizing anyone's safety wondering what this van is going to do, can he see us? A large sedan's visibility is even worse (like an Intrepid) because of lower driving position. I can see through the minivan like an aquarium. Sometimes I need to open the door to watch the back though.
Did you notice that almost always people step off the brake, roll the vehicle a bit out of the spot, THEN look and stop? Watch your kids in mall lots while walking behind any idling car, I saw an old lady once hit by her husband's Grand Marquis, she wasn't injured but screamed a lot.
Not sure if the size would let you install the camera in the liftgate of a van or SUV......
Backup-Sensor (www.backup-sensor.com)
CrimeStopper (www.crimestopper.com)
DesignTech International, Inc. (www.designtech-intl.com)
Donnelly VideoMirror with ReversAid/BabyVue (www.donnelly.com)
EZ2BACKUP (www.ez2backup.com)
GDP Parking Sensors (www.gdpsensor.com)
HitchCAM (www.hitchcam.com)
Magnadyne RB-06 (www.magnadyne.com)
MAXVision (no Web address available)
Parking-E (www.stratusgroupsite.com)
Poron Micro3, Poron Mini3LV (www.poronusa.com)
Roldan Products Corp. (www.roldanexport.com)
Rostra Precision Controls (www.rostra.com)
SMARTPARK (www.smartpark.net)
Sonar Vision (www.sonarvision.com)
Speed-O-Tach, Inc. (www.sotelectronics.com/src_backup.php3)
Taurus Electronic Security (www.gobrandon.com)
Trilogix Wireless Backup BAT-2W (no Web address available)
Ultrasonic Back-up Alarm (no Web address available)
VizuaLogic (www.vizualogic.com)
It only cost me $30 to have someone install it and there are not any holes in my bumper. Check it out if you don't want to have a permanent installation.
I ended up getting a license plate system from Reverse Backing Systems that I really like. These do not require permanent installation (ie - no holes in the bumper).
hope that helps :-)
The one I got is: http://www.reversebackingsystems.com/DT104-LP.html
- Pat
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7985231260&category=677- 9
thought i would help someone out :-)
- Pat
My questions are what did she buy, is it worth $600.00+, and could some other similar product be have been used instead? :confuse:
After reading some of the posts here at edmunds.com, I'm starting to think that the girlfriend bought an expensive was job. :sick: True?
Any thoughts or comments on this matter would be greatly appreciated!
But yeah, that's wax and Scotchgard and $600 sounds like a rip-off to me. Try one of the discussions linked above for more.
Oh, this discussion may be of interest too (search for mop and glow in there):
Dealer's Tricks - bait & switch, etc.
Steve, Host
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/liplfrwi4ser.html
i got the audio alert only (easier install--put the speaker on the back edge near my rear seats)
i think it's tilted a bit, the instructions say you may have to adjust the angle a bit using spacers provided. works great. even not adjusted. you can get alert from an angle as well as directly behind at about 3 feet goes constant at about 1ft. it "sees" my 2 yr old toddler(can't see from the rear view mirror) so tha't why i got it, i wan't to "see" someway when i back up not just for parking. the cameras are great too but too$$$$$
I think you can call Reverse Backing Systems and they will talk you through it though.
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I see references to this on the Solara page but no real answers. So any info would be greatly appreciated.
--The Eclipse BEC104 camera, available from Crutchfield and others, has the right connector and pin-out to plug directly into the back of the Solara’s Radio/Navigation unit. (I would guess that the BEC103 and BEC105 are also suitable.)
--Since the Solara navigation unit already has a Reverse signal, the electrical installation is indeed plug and play.
--The Radio/Navigation unit, ATC, their common bezel, and bracket must be removed as an assembly. (Don’t pry at the Radio/Navigation/ATC bezel looking for mounting bolts!)
--To access the upper two mounting bolts for the Radio/Nav assembly, the panel at the upper center of the dash containing the A/C vents and three small displays (MPG, clock, and temperature) must be removed. The clips are released by prying the panel toward the rear of the car with one or more plastic blades. (On my vehicle, there was adhesive in addition to the clips and I almost gave up before working it loose.)
--To access the lower two mounting bolts, the top of the console surrounding the shifter must be removed, then the CD box assembly below the ATC. (The clips for these two assemblies weren’t glued and released easily.)
--I strongly recommend that anyone doing the installation invest $10 in a day’s subscription to Toyota Lexus Service Support at http://www.techinfo.toyota.com/ and print out all the relevant information. (On this website, even after you turn your pop-up blocker off, you may have to hold the CTRL key down as you click on your selections.)
Good luck!
Steve, Host
In this case smaller is better.......
"While the best known application for automotive image sensors is rear view assist, there are several key emerging applications, Stith said, including lane tracking or lane departure warning, 360-degree view around the car (no blind spots), parking assistance and adaptive cruise control."
Micron rolls out second generation auto image sensor (EE Times)
Another blurb:
"Cameras used to replace side view mirrors might also help boost fuel economy in some vehicles, such as trucks where large amounts of aerodynamic drag are created by relatively large mirrors."
Chipmaker Sees Big Picture for Cars (PC Magazine)
Steve, Host
Thank you for contacting Eclipse:
The camera is only about an inch squared but tapers toward the lens. The date of release is not available yet but I'm assuming sometime in jan or feb.
Tech Support
I can wait until Jan or Feb for this one. It's half the size of the 103 and 104
SUV backover deaths: What can be done? (CNN)
Steve, Host
Here is my preference:
1. It should detect fairly close distance (I was told that Rosta can detect by 6 inch. According to Poron, they can detect up to 12 inch) because the main reason to buy the sensors is for parallel parking in downtown area.
2. Reliability and durability: This is very important because one failure could damage my car, which will cost a lot.
3. Easy of installation and use: I prefer under the bumper installation. But, Rostra had only two sensors (worried about the coverage). In order to get four sensors in Rostra, I have to drill the bumper. Poron has an edge (no need to drill). But, I am not sure if the sensors are fully hidden (or looks ugly). I also like Poron's voice notification (if it is quite accurate).
Given the preference, please let me know which one would be the best for me. If none of these two, let me know the other model.
Thank you for your help in advance.
I didn't have any problems with the coverage for my '00 full size Chevy truck.
Also, how effective the alarm sound? I think voice activation in Poron sensors is quite appealing (what model did you have in Poron?). Without it, we only know (maybe) 3-4 difference frequency (I guess) without knowing the exact distance I am currently on. But, I am not sure how this really matters in reality, though.
Also, Rostra said everytime I put brake the sensor will reset and re-detect the distance. I don't know it would be the same thing as the other sensors.
I didn't like the idea of drilling holes in my bumper so I had 4 small stainless steel brackets made for me which I tack welded to the bumper to install the poron.
The rostra model that I installed had both audio and visual indicators. I didn't bother with the audio and installed the visual indicator in the roof panel between the seats. They were coded red yellow and green for different distances.
The poron model had both audio and a digital led readout as to the distance between the truck and any object.
What it came down to is durability. The wires on the poron are really thin as compared to the cable looking type that came with the rostra. Being installed on the outside of the vehicle and being subjected to just about every type of abuse, the poron did not hold up well and I had to replace the wires once. The second time around I bought the rostra.
I's surprised that your rostra would reset by depressing the brakes. Reason being that the sensors do not turn off until you shift out of reverse so there should be no resetting unless you shifted. Could be that it was installed differently.
Also, it looks like Rostra had only one color (black). Where can get the sensors painted (matched to my vehicle)?
One more: Rostra has two different sensors (obstacle sensoring system and parking assist). The first one uses microwave technology (mostly used for truck & large van) and the second one uses ultrasonic technology (as most others uses). The first one comes with LED monitor and the second one is sonic (sound alarm) only. But, the advantage of the second one is it can detect as short as 5-6 inch, while the first one detect up to 1 feet (!2 inch). I am leaning toward the second one, but it looks like "microwave" technology works better in harsh weather condition (rain, snow, etc.). Please advise me what to choose.
Steve, Host
Thanks for the help.